NAVER D2SF Invests in Virtual Entertainment Startup 23i to Expand Content Production Capabilities

On July 9 2026, NAVER D2SF, the corporate venture arm of South Korean internet giant Naver, disclosed a new investment in 23i, a startup that builds virtual artists and the tools that bring them to life. The partnership follows 23i’s debut of its virtual boy group WE GO‑6, a six‑member ensemble that uses a “multi‑persona” concept to give each character a distinct personality.

23i’s CEO Hyungmin Kim explained that the company has created a production pipeline that fuses real‑time motion capture, toon‑shading technology, and specialized motion‑control systems for both quadrupedal and flight movements. The result is a lean workflow that lets a small team generate high‑quality, high‑frequency content—enough to keep fans engaged on a regular basis. The firm’s focus on narrative depth and interactive fandom is designed to strengthen the bond between virtual performers and their audiences.

The investment aligns with NAVER D2SF’s broader mandate to back startups that advance the virtual content technology stack. The venture arm has previously funded projects in 3D engines, motion‑capture hardware, and virtual‑character intellectual property. According to the press release, the new partnership will bolster 23i’s infrastructure and enable the delivery of even higher‑quality content.

Virtual entertainment is expanding at a rapid pace, fueled by advances in artificial intelligence, real‑time rendering, and interactive media. 23i’s multi‑persona approach gives storytellers more flexibility and offers fresh fan experiences. WE GO‑6, unveiled in 2025, showcases the company’s ability to craft distinct personalities for each member—a feature that sets it apart from traditional virtual bands.

Naver Corporation, headquartered in Seongnam, has been a leading search‑engine provider for more than two decades and operates a range of services including webtoons, cloud computing, and mobile payments. Its corporate venture arm, D2SF, was founded in 1999 and has a history of collaborating with technology startups to drive innovation across commerce, content, fintech, and cloud sectors.

The deal reflects NAVER D2SF’s confidence in 23i’s technology and its potential to capture a growing share of the global virtual entertainment market. While the exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the partnership is expected to accelerate 23i’s development of production tools and expand its reach in the Korean and international markets.

Industry analysts note that 23i’s combination of real‑time motion capture and advanced shading techniques positions it to compete with established virtual performers such as Hatsune Miku and newer virtual idol groups. The company’s emphasis on efficient workflow and rapid content creation could reduce production costs and time to market—an advantage in a fast‑moving entertainment landscape.

NAVER D2SF has indicated that it will continue to seek opportunities with startups that create new possibilities in virtual content. Its broader portfolio includes investments in AI‑driven media tools and immersive experiences that aim to transform how artists and fans interact.

As virtual entertainment becomes more mainstream, partnerships like the one between NAVER D2SF and 23i may set a precedent for how traditional media companies collaborate with niche technology firms to innovate in content creation and distribution.

The partnership is still in its early stages, with no immediate release dates announced for new WE GO‑6 content. Both companies have stated that they will work together to enhance production capabilities and explore new fan engagement strategies.

For now, the investment signals a growing interest in virtual entertainment from major Korean tech firms and suggests that the industry will continue to evolve as technology enables more sophisticated and frequent content delivery.